Artificial window



0a. 6, 1953 R. L. PIERCE 2,654,827

ARTIFICIAL WINDOW Filed Dec. 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l l5 INVENTOR 205,567- 4. P/fECA-j BY A T TORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllll in NANJ - INVENTOR East-er 4. P/EEQE;

W ffTTO/PNE VS Oct. 6, 1953 R. L. PIERCE ARTIFICIAL WINDOW Filed Dec. 16, 1949 a iv MW Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL WINDOW Robert L. Pierce, San Antonio, Tex.

Application December .16, 1949, SerialNo. 133,249

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to window construction and has as a particular object an artificial window which effectively eliminates the necessity for light and air courts which are now considered such an essential part of all ofiice buildings, hotels and the like.

It is an object of this invention, in conjunction with the aforementioned object, to save and utilize all of the space now devoted to such light and air courts thereby multiplying the number of rooms presently available on a given plot of real estate.

It is another object to create a source of light for those rooms of a building without windows, said source giving the general appearance of a window which aptly blends with the furniture of a room and greatly enhances the beauty thereof.

Still another object of the present invention re sides in the creation of an artificial window so designed as to be realistic in appearance and yet provide a source of light which greatly resembles the natural light obtained from the conventional window.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a construction having the above qualities which gives a considerable space at the upper portion thereof and doors on each side of the wall for working on the electrical lighting fixtures and to receive any desired utility wires or pipes. Another use of this space can be for receiving various types of air conditioning equipment.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi. one form of the artificial window showing a possible blending of furniture therewith;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of another form of the invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a building utilizing the present invention for obtaining extra office space.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the artificial window shown in Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the several figures.

At the present time in the construction of large office buildings, apartment houses, hotels and other similar structures, it is from a practical point necessary to so arrange the rooms therein 2 that each will have a window opening out into a light and air court or some other open space where these essentials may be obtained. These light and air courts take many difierent forms but probably the most used construction is to provide an elongated building having a hallway in the middle thereof furnishing an entrance into rooms on each side thereof. In this manner each room has a wall where windows may be placed opening into an outside light and air space. This construction may be modified by the provision of wings of similar construction extending perpendicular from the main building. Of course these wings are spaced apart a sufficient distance to allow for light and air spaces therebetween. This space is also governed by the fact that the occupantsof the rooms on one wing desire a certain amount of privacy from occupants of another wing. Other designs for buildings provide a general quadrilateral or polygonal shaped structure with a court in a central portion thereof.

Therefore in an area where real estae is at a premium it will readily be seen that an efiicient means for eliminating these light and air courts.

will greatly increase the possible oflice space.

With the advent of practical air conditioning equipment it is no longer necessary to have windows for purposes of ventilation. In fact the windows in air conditioned buildings are generally left closed and are used only as a source of light.

Also most office buildings escape the shortage of ground floor space in large cities by constructing buildings in a multiplicity of floors. In this manner the upper floors will have outside windows overlooking the adiacent property with plenty of light and air space. However many such buildings have had their ofiice rooms reduced in desirability and value by as much as by adjacent property owners subsequently building multiple story structures, thereby blocking out all light and air courts. v

The present invention is to form a substitute for this light. It will, of course, be readily apparent that to have nothing but walls on four sidesof the room would be quite undesirable. Most buildings having such rooms use them for low cost storage purposes. However there is no reason why this space should not be turned into modern oflice spaceof a most desirable quality. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned types of buildings, but may be used in schools, churches and the like.

The source of light furnished by the present invention gives a beautiful appearance to the room in which it is placed when provided with venetian blinds and has all the appearance of a window having the outside light rays coming therethrough.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 4 and 6 is designed primarily for new construction and is of the twin window type. That is, one side of the window can be seen from one room and the other side of the window can be seen from an adjoining room. This will become clear with a brief explanation of Fig.3 of the drawings. This figure represents the floor plan of a building utilizing the principle of my invention. Longitudinal walls l2 and i3 are shown joined by transverse walls l4 and IS. The space between walls l2 and It represents the amount of space formerly taken up by light and air courts. Here a passageway it has been provided and it will be seen that a new set of rooms have been provided with double windows illustrated by the numerals El and i8. By providing these double windows of the twin type in walls I2 and I3 it will be seen that artificial light will be provided for both the new rooms between walls |2 and I3,

and for the rooms on opposite sides of the walls which were illuminated from the light and air courts. Of course it will be understood that the present installation may be made as a single room arrangement and is not necessarily limited to the twin window type described above. 1

As has been already mentioned if the building is new construction a window like that shown in Fig. 6 would be used at I! and i8. If the building is of the old type a window like that shown in Fig. 5 would be used at I! and H3.

The window in Fig. 6 is mounted in double curtain walls l9 and 20 respectively. These walls may be of clay tile or metal studs having wire laths mounted thereon to provide a support for plaster. While the walls are shown relatively thick and close together in Fig. 6 it will be understood that such size and relative position is to be regulated as desired. It is possible that the walls could each be four inches thick spaced l0" apart if so desired. This would of course provide a large amount of space for heating and air conditioning equipment or utility cables.

As shown in Fig. 6 a plate 2| is positioned on the two walls to join them together. At each edge of the plate an upturned lip 2 I is provided, the purpose of which is to retain the glass brick in proper relation with the plate. Spaced vertical walls 22 and 23 of prismatic glass blocks are erected on the outer edges of plate 2| adjacent the upturned lips 21 These glass blocks, illustrated by the numeral 24, are joined by means of mortar. Each block is formed with corrugations all around into which the special cement mortar will be embedded for adhering adjacent faces of the several units. The exposed faces of the blocks are preferably provided with a plurality of prismatic formations to completely diffuse the light and produce a uniform emission of light. At the upper end of the glass walls an inverted U-shaped hood reflector 29 joins the walls and is adapted to support the necessary lighting fixtures and a vertical reflector plate. The lighting fixtures may be of any desired type which will give an even degree of light along the width of the window. However, it is preferred to use lights of the mercury tube system, these being illustrated by numerals 25 and 26. A vertical deflector plate 22 is mounted centrally between walls 24 and is fastened to an intermediate portion of the hood as at 28 by any convenient means and extends- .cap moulding 32.

downwardly to plate 2|. This deflector plate 21 is preferably constructed of approximately 20 gauge metal having a porcelainized enameled finish. The hood 29 is adapted to reflect the rays of light downwardly across the surface of the glass and the reflector plate 2'! directs the light outwardly through the glass blocks 24. In the space between the hood and the upper walls l9 and 20 there is ample room for the necessary installation and repair of the lights. In order to give the window a material and aesthetic appearance appropriate molding is used to join the upper end of the glass walls 22 and 23 with the walls I9 and 20, respectively. In the present conception, I provide a vertical facing plate 30 which is joined with a horizontal plate 3| by means of a strip of Ahorizonal portion of plate 3| acts as a rest for walls I9 or 20 and a vertical portion 33 extends along the outer edge of the last named walls and is'connected thereto. As will be noted from Fig. 4 a vertical member 34 extends along eachend of the window where it connects to the wall. Figure 1 shows a door 35 which communicates with the space between walls iii and 28 and gives access to the interior of glass walls 22 and 23. This affords an adequate space for such necessaries as cleaning and repairing the fixtures. 0n the side of the wall opposite to that shown in Fig. 1 a door would be positioned at the opposite end of the window. In this manner access is given-to both ends of the window with only one access door in each room. Figure I also shows how desks or dressing vanities may be positioned beneath the windows to'add realism to the installation. Mirror panels l9a, Zita may be added accordingly.

The other form of the window is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The supporting wall 30 is usually of solid construction since it is the former outer wall. A plate 4|, similar to plate 2| of Fig. 6, is positioned centrally of the wall and is provided on each edge thereof with upturned lips 4|. -To fill in the space between lips 4| and the edge of the wall horizontally disposed sills 42 and 43 are utilized. This gives finished look to the base of the window. Glass walls 44 and 45 extend upwardly from plate 4|. The walls engage and are retained at their lower ends by lips 4|. These walls curve outwardly as they ascend and at the top thereof extend laterally slightly beyond the wall surface. In the instant form of the invention a horizontal plate 46 is mounted between the top of the walls on a vertically extending deflector plate 41. The upper end of the deflector plate is anchored to wall 48 and the lower end of the plate is connected to plate 4|. light reflectors are utilized for the lighting fixtures es and 49 respectively. In this way the light is directed downwardly on to the surface of the glass and the reflector plate 47 and thence through the glass panel. Moulding of a nature similar to that already discussed may be used to provide a neat appearance between the upper end of the glass walls t4 and 45 and the wall 40. Briefly, however, I provide additional framework comprising an angle facing plate member SO positioned at the upper outer edge of the curved walls, said angle member being connected to a double angle member 5| by means of a moulding cap strip 52. ends 53 of the double angle member 5| is anchored in wall MB to prevent relativelateral movement with respect thereto. In order to expedite repairing of the lights various of the moulding Here arcuate It will be noted that the upper inner strips are connected :by easy removable means such as screws or the like.

Figure 2 shows further how the beauty of a room, such as an oiflce, will be enhanced by the addition of a sectional bookcase beneath the window. This arrangement permits the use of ordinary wasted space for artistically storing books in full view.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that I have created a new means for eliminating light and air courts between buildings and have pro vided an eflicient structure for both new and old buildings. Rooms which were formerly practical for storage only can now be turned into a valuable asset in the form of desirable ofllce space.

While I have shown and described a preferred form. of my invention, it will be understood that variations in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A window including a framework, said framework comprising a plate forming the bottom thereof, a deflector supported on said plate, and extending upwardly therefrom and having means at its upper end for connection to a wall receiving said window to support said deflector, a glass wall mounted on said plate, a lip formed on said plate engaging and securing a portion of said glass wall on said plate, said glass wall extending outwardly and upwardly from said plate and being substantially vertically coextensive with said deflector, support means for said glass wall connected to the upper portion thereof comprising a facing plate having a portion extending upwardly from said glass wall, a member extending generally laterally of said wall and having horizontal surfaces adapted to contact the perimeter of a wall opening and an element intermediate and interconnecting said member and said facing plate to said glass wall, a second plate mounted on said deflector, and extending downwardly therefrom, a light reflector mounted on said second plate having lighting fixtures mounted adjacent thereto, said reflector extending between said glass wall and said deflector, and being so mounted that light from said fixtures will be directed by said reflector from said fixtures against said deflector and onto said glass wall.

ROBERT L. PIERCE.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,996,597 Sweet Apr. 2, 1935 2,052,755 Duffy Sept. 1, 1936 2,216,220 Baker Oct. 1, 1940 2,457,619 Yocum Dec. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 570,414 France Jan. 16, 1924 

